Get Lasting Relief from GERD with State-of-the-Art Surgery

Many people confuse gastroesophageal disease (GERD) with heartburn, but they are different.

Heartburn is what most people feel from time to time when acid occasionally flows backward (refluxes) up into the esophagus, where it causes discomfort. But GERD is when this reflux occurs chronically, causing pain and sometimes damaging the esophageal lining. If left untreated, GERD does more than simply keep you in misery. It can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, a condition marked by destruction of the lining of the esophagus, and that can develop into esophageal cancer.

Surgery is the only way to stop GERD.

For heartburn, medications help reduce symptoms. But when the reflux is chronic, reducing the symptoms does nothing to protect the esophagus or to prevent Barrett’s esophagus or cancer. That’s because medications only address the symptoms and play no role in fixing the reflux itself. Only surgery can fix the problem.

GERD causes symptoms, damage and serious risks.

The LES is the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach that opens to allow food to flow from the esophagus into the stomach. Quite importantly, the LES also closes to prevent the stomach’s acidic contents from refluxing into the esophagus, where it can damage the lining. GERD occurs when the LES is defective and no longer prevents reflux, which may cause the following symptoms:

Chest pain

Heartburn

Sore throat

Cough

Regurgitation

Asthma

An important fact to remember is that GERD is often progressive, meaning that it (and its symptoms) worsen over time… and cause serious problems while it does it, including:

Inflammation, irritation or swelling of the esophagus (esophagitis)

Narrowing of the esophagus (stricture)

Precancerous changes to the esophagus (Barrett’s esophagus)

NSTOA’s surgeons prevent GERD with today’s best techniques.

To fix the LES, stop the reflux and end the misery, NTSOA’s highly competent, board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons perform the most advanced and proven surgeries for GERD:

LINX® System – With this new, state-of-the-art, minimally invasive technique, our surgeons implant a small, circular metal device that facilitates the proper expansion and contraction of the LES using magnets. The LINX System, while not offered by most other North Texas surgeons, offers the highest rates of success and a minimum of tissue disturbance. Also, it is the only GERD procedure that can be reversed if necessary. We are one of North Texas’ only surgical teams performing this procedure, and the first in North Texas to have performed it.

Nissen fundoplication – Laparoscopic fundoplication, first performed by Dr. Rudolph Nissen, is the minimally invasive surgical technique for wrapping the fundus around the LES and the lower part of the esophagus in order to strengthen the LES’ closing function.

Toupet fundoplication – The toupet procedure is a fundoplication that can be done for patients who may not be candidates for the other procedures.

With their vast surgical training, Drs. Smith and Le Voyer are extremely knowledgeable and capable. More importantly, they have performed thousands of anti-reflux surgical procedures, giving them not just the ability to determine the most appropriate, effective technique but, also, the experience to achieve best possible surgical outcomes.

To schedule an appointment for a reflux-surgery consultation, call 855-407-3030. You can also request an appointment using our easy online form.

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